Protein and Isolated or Purified Amino Acid Product Containing Compositions and Uses Thereof

ABSTRACT

Compositions comprising a protein and an isolated or purified amino acid product, and uses thereof are disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of pending U.S. application Ser. No.12/185,199, filed Aug. 4, 2008, which itself claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/953,569, filed Aug. 2, 2007, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/969,783, filed Sep. 4, 2007, each of thecontents of the entirety of which are incorporated by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure are directedtoward compositions which may be used as soil conditioners and/orfertilizers. Other non-limiting embodiments are directed towardcompositions that add nutrients to soil. Also disclosed are methods forincreasing nitrogen and/or mineral content in soil, improving turfgrassquality, increasing soil microbial content, and/or fertilizinghorticultural or agricultural crops using the various compositions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a composition comprises a seed protein, an isolatedor purified amino acid product and a binding agent.

In another embodiment, a composition comprises soybean meal, an isolatedor purified lysine product, soy protein isolate, and soybean oil.

In yet a further embodiment, a method comprises applying a compositionof the present invention to a plant, soil or a combination thereof.

In an additional embodiment, uses of the compositions of the present asa fertilizer or soil amendment are disclosed.

In an yet additional embodiment, methods of controlling lawn dollarspots or lawn crabgrass are disclosed.

Other embodiments also describe compositions and methods of improvingturfgrass quality, reducing the presence of weeds and increasingclippings weight.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a quality evaluation of a green height trial of oneembodiment of a composition of the present invention compared to otherfertilizers. A rating of nine (9) represents the highest quality turfand rating of six (6) or higher are commercially acceptable greens turf.

FIG. 2 depicts a quality evaluation of a green height trial of oneembodiment of a composition of the present invention compared to otherfertilizers. A rating of nine (9) represents the highest quality turfand rating of six (6) or higher are commercially acceptable greens turf.

FIG. 3 depicts a quality evaluation of a lawn height trial of oneembodiment of a composition of the present invention compared to otherfertilizers. A rating of nine (9) represents the highest quality turfand rating of six (6) or higher are commercially acceptable greens turf.

FIG. 4 depicts a quality evaluation of a lawn height trial of oneembodiment of a composition of the present invention compared to otherfertilizers. A rating of nine (9) represents the highest quality turfand rating of six (6) or higher are commercially acceptable greens turf.

FIG. 5 depicts an evaluation of Dollar Spot infection on a lawn heighttrial of one embodiment of a composition of the present inventioncompared to other fertilizers. Ratings are an indication of the percentof plot covered by dollar spot lesions.

FIG. 6 depicts an evaluation of crabgrass invasion of long height trialof one embodiment of a composition of the present invention compared toother fertilizers. Ratings indicate percentage of plot covered bycrabgrass plants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one non-limiting aspect of the present invention, acomposition comprises a plant, vegetable or seed protein material; avegetable oil; a plant, vegetable or seed processing byproduct; an aminoacid; a fermentation cell broth; an ammonium salt of an organic acid; anamidated organic carboxylic acid; a soluble plant protein; a chelatedmineral; and mixtures of any thereof. In certain embodiments, the seedprotein product may be one or more of the components selected from thegroup consisting of high protein soybean meal, soy protein isolate,soybean oil, soybean flakes, soybean hulls, soybean flour, soybeangrits, soybean flakes, whey protein, canola protein, milk protein, eggprotein, gelatin, wheat gluten, wheat protein isolate, wheat proteinconcentrate, cottonseed protein, palm kernels, palm protein, rapeseedkernels, safflower protein, sunflower protein, sesame protein, peanutprotein, peanut processing residue, and mixtures of any thereof.

In certain other embodiments, a binding agent may comprise a vegetableoil selected from the group consisting of butterfat, cocoa butter, cocoabutter substitutes, illipe fat, kokum butter, milk fat, mowrah fat,phulwara butter, sal fat, shea fat, camelina oil, canola oil, castoroil, coconut oil, coriander oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, hazelnut oil,hempseed oil, jatropha oil, linseed oil, mango kernel oil, meadowfoamoil, mustard oil, neat's foot oil, olive oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil,peanut oil, rapeseed oil, rice bran oil, safflower oil, sasanqua oil,shea butter, soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, tall oil, tsubaki oil,tung oil, vegetable oils, triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols,monoacylglycerols, triolein, palm olein, palm stearin, palm kernelolein, palm kernel stearin, triglycerides of medium chain fatty acids,and derivatives, conjugated derivatives, genetically-modifiedderivatives, and mixtures of any thereof.

In another embodiment the vegetable oils used may be crude, refined orpartially refined. In another embodiment the vegetable oils may bemodified, either chemically or enzymatically.

In yet another embodiment the vegetable oils may be a mixture ofmonoglycerides, diglycerides and triglycerides. In other embodiments thevegetable oils may be deodorized and/or bleached.

In yet another embodiment, a binding agent used in the compositions ofthe present invention may include crude glycerin, corn syrup, corn steepliquor, condensed distillers' solubles or any combinations thereof.

In yet a further embodiment, the binding agent may be lecithin. Thelecithin may be modified, un-modified or crude and may be obtained fromany number of sources including, but not limited to, soy, corn orcanola.

In certain yet other embodiments, the isolated or purified amino acidproduct may be selected from the group consisting of lysinemonohydrochloride, lysine hydrate, lysine dihydrochloride, lysinesulfate, lysine free-base, lysine cell waste, lysine cell mass, lysineraffinate, a lysine mother liquor, threonine, threonine cell mass,threonine mother liquor, methionine, tryptophan, glucosamine andmixtures of any thereof.

Another embodiment may include a composition comprising high proteinsoybean meal, lysine HCl, soy protein isolate, soy protein concentrateand soybean oil. In certain other embodiments, the soybean meal may bebetween 50-80 percent by weight of the composition, the lysine HCl maybe between 10-30 percent by weight of the composition, the soy proteinisolate may be between 5-10 percent by weight of the composition, thesoy protein concentrate may be between 1-20 percent by weight of thecomposition and the soybean oil may be between 1-5 percent by weight ofthe composition.

Other aspects of the present invention include a method comprisingapplying a composition comprising a seed protein product, an amino acidand a binding agent to a turfgrass at a rate of at least 0.1 pounds ofnitrogen per one thousand square feet of the turfgrass. In certainembodiments, the seed protein is a soybean meal product having anitrogen content of at least 25%.

Further non-limiting embodiments include a method of improving turfgrassquality. The method comprises applying a composition, as describedherein, to turfgrass. Further non-limiting embodiments include a methodof improving soil microbial content comprising applying a composition ofthe present invention to soil.

Another non-limiting embodiment describes a soil conditioner compositioncomprising a fertilizer composition and an organic material.

In another non-limiting embodiment, a composition of the presentinvention comprises a high protein soybean meal, a dry lysine product, aliquid lysine product, a lysine fermentation by-product, a threoninefermentation by-product, a low protein soybean meal, soybean oil, andcombinations of any thereof. In another non-limiting embodiment, afertilizer or soil conditioner composition comprises a high proteinsoybean meal, lysine hydrochloride, soy protein isolate, soy proteinconcentrate, soybean oil, and combinations of any thereof.

In certain other embodiments, upon application of the organic compoundto a turf grass prior to winter dormancy, a color of the turf grass maybe improved as compared to the turf grass without having the organiccompound applied.

Still further non-limiting embodiments include methods of fertilizinghorticultural or agricultural crops. The methods include applying acomposition of the present invention to the horticultural oragricultural crop, such that the composition promotes growth and/orproduction of the horticultural or agricultural crop.

The various non-limiting embodiments of compositions of the present maybe used as granular soil conditioners, granular fertilizer compositionsand used in various methods of increasing the nitrogen content of soil,promoting crop production, and fertilizing horticultural andagricultural crops, including, for example, turfgrass.

Application of nutrient soil conditioners to soil in which commercialcrops, such as, for example, fruits, vegetables, grains, grasses, forexample turf grasses, and other horticultural and agricultural products,are planted is one approach for increasing production and growth of suchcrops or grasses.

Turfgrass may be defined as a grass cover established on a site forvarious uses including, but limited to, preventing erosion andmaintaining visibility (e.g. a road side); to reduce dust, glare, andsurface temperatures (e.g. a lawn or a park); to beautify thesurroundings (e.g. a lawn); and to provide a playing surface for sportsand recreating (e.g. athletic fields and golf courses).

The grass family (Gramineae) includes over 500 species of plants, butabout 40 species are suited for turf use. These include withoutlimitation the genus Bermuda grass (Cynodon spp.) with the species C.dactylon [L.] Pers. being the most widespread. Other grasses common inthe United States include, but are not limited to, Saint Augustine grass(Stenotaphrum secundatum), Tall fescue (Festuca spp.), Bent grass(Agrostis), Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), Kentucky bluegrass (Poapratensis), and Ryegrass (Lolium spp.). Details on various varieties ofturf grasses and their use are described in “Turf grasses—TheirManagement and Use in the Southern Zone” by Richard L. Duble (Texas A&MUniversity Press, 2^(nd) Ed. 2001), the contents of the entirety ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

Turfgrass growth and maintenance requires optimization of water,nutrients and herbicides. Soil nutrients, such as, nitrogen, phosphorus,potassium, and sulfur, as well as trace elements such as iron, zinc,copper, and magnesium, are useful for achieving thriving agriculture andgrowth of the plants. However, upon repeated planting cycles, thequantity of these nutrients in the soil may be depleted as plantsutilize the nutrients. Depletion of nutrient levels in the soil mayresult in inhibited plant growth and decreased production per acre. Tocounter this effect, soil conditioners and fertilizers have beendeveloped to help replace the depleted vital nutrients in soil so thatoptimal plant growth and high yields may be obtained.

Soil conditioners may be classified as either organic soil conditionersor inorganic soil conditioners. As used herein, the term “organic”includes having a molecular skeleton comprising a carbon backbone.Organic soil conditioners are made from materials derived from livingthings. Examples of organic fertilizers include, but are not limited to,vegetable, plant or seed proteins, animal manures, compost, bone meal,feather meal, peat, blood meal and combinations of any thereof.Inorganic soil conditioners, on the other hand, are manufactured fromnon-living materials and include, for example, ammonium nitrate,ammonium sulfate, urea, potassium chloride, potash, ammonium phosphate,anhydrous ammonia, other phosphate salts and combinations of anythereof.

Inorganic soil conditioners are commercially available and containnutrients in soluble form that are immediately available to the plant.Inorganic soil conditioners are generally inexpensive, having a low unitcost for the desired element. In addition, the exact amount of a givenelement may be calculated and administered to the plant or soil.

However, some inorganic soil conditioners may suffer from disadvantages.First, inorganic soil conditioners, especially nitrogen soilconditioners, may be subject to leaching to levels below the root of theplant. This leaching may occur as a result of rain or irrigation, andmay result in contamination of ground water, community drinking water,and/or wells by soil conditioner components. Such leaching may renderthe nutrients unavailable to the plant's roots and result in wastedmoney being spent on the leached soil conditioners. Second, excessapplication of the inorganic soil conditioner may result inphytotoxicity, such as, burning of the plant tissue (foliar burn) androots, particularly with young plants. Finally, inorganic soilconditioners may lead to build up of toxic concentrations of salts inthe soil due to heavy or non-systematic application of the soilconditioner. Alternatively, chemical imbalances may develop if soilnutrient content is not closely monitored.

Organic soil conditioners, on the other hand, are typically not asimmediately available to plants and may require soil microorganisms tobreak the organic soil conditioner components down into simplerstructures prior to use by the plants. This break-down occurs over atime period and may provide for slower release of nutrients. Organicsoil conditioners usually have a low salt index, so larger amounts maybe applied at one time without causing injury to the plant. In addition,buildup of toxicity in the soil is unlikely. However, the cost oforganic soil conditioners on a unit cost of nutrients basis is typicallyhigher than the inorganic counterparts and may make the commercialapplication of conventional organic soil conditioners cost prohibitive.

In addition, organic soil conditioners may not only elicit a plantgrowth response as observed with common inorganic soil conditioners, butnatural organic soil conditioners may also stimulate soil microbialpopulation growth and activities. Increased soil microbial populationmay have significant beneficial effects on the physical and chemicalproperties of the soil, as well as increasing disease and pestresistance.

In another embodiment, an organic soil conditioner that may be used tostimulate the soil microbial populate includes, but is not limited to, afermentation co-product such as citric acid yeast cream (e.g., CITRISTIMbrand yeast cream available from Archer Daniels Midland Company.Decatur, Ill.), an ethanol yeast biomass obtained from the production ofethanol or other ethanol fermentation by-products, amino acidfermentation mother liquors and combinations of any thereof. Suchorganic soil conditioners may be present in a composition as describedherein in a concentration of between 0.1-5% by weight of thecomposition.

There is, therefore, a need for soil conditioners or fertilizers that donot exhibit the disadvantages of known inorganic soil conditioners orfertilizers, but include many or all of the advantages exhibited bythese products.

According to the various embodiments, the compositions of the presentdisclosure may be applied to soil, agricultural or horticultural cropsin an amount that replenishes various nutrients that may have beendepleted from the soil such as, for example, as a result of repeatedplanting cycles or that may have been depleted by leaching.Alternatively, the compositions may be applied to soils having low orinsufficient nutrient levels and/or soil microbe levels to supportefficient agricultural production of crops, such as, for example, landthat is currently unsuitable for farming or crop production.

In other non-limiting embodiments, the compositions of the presentdisclosure may promote growth of a plant in a hydroponic or aeroponicsystem.

In other non-limiting embodiments, the compositions described herein maybe granular free flowing powders.

According to certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure,the one or more organic compounds of the compositions may comprise aplant or vegetable protein, such as a seed protein intermixed with anamino acid and binding agent. The proteins which can be used inaccordance with the present disclosure may be vegetable proteins whichare insoluble at their isoelectric points and soluble above and belowtheir isoelectric points. Vegetable proteins that may be used are thosedescribed as oil seed proteins which are generally derived from oil seedcake, i.e., that material left after expression of oil from such seedsas cottonseed, palm, peanut, rape, safflower, sesame, soybean, sunflowerand the like. Extractable protein from other vegetable sources such aspeas (chick, field, lentil, broad, wrinkled, white and the like), ediblebeans (mung, winged, caster, faba, lima, pinto, kidney and the like),grains (wheat, rye, rice, corn and the like), stringbeans and leaves(alfalfa, clover, legumes, vegetables and the like) can also be used.

In various embodiments, the proteins that may be used may have a proteincontent of at least 60%, at least 70% protein, or at least 90% protein.For example, in one embodiment, soy protein concentrate (at least 70%protein-N×6.25 on a moisture free basis) may be used. In anotherembodiment, soy protein isolate with a minimum protein content of 90% ona moisture-free basis may be used. Soy protein concentrates areavailable in different forms including, but not limited to granules,flour and spray dried. In another embodiment, soy flour in a powder formmay be used as the protein source.

According to certain non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure,the fertilizer composition may comprise a lysine product, a fermentationcell broth, vegetable oil, products and/or by-products generated at anagricultural product processing facility, and a protein, such as a plantderived protein, a bacterial or microbe derived protein, or an animalderived protein, or mixtures of any thereof. According to certainnon-limiting embodiments, the protein may be substantially soluble in anaqueous solution. According to other non-limiting embodiments, theprotein may be substantially insoluble in an aqueous solution.

In one embodiment, the compositions of the present invention may beprepared by dry blending the ingredients as described in the variousembodiments herein. In one embodiment, the blending may be achieved by adry blender, ribbon blender, mixer, stirrer, paddle blender, vacuumhorizontal blender, extruder, vertical blender and the like. Suchapparatuses are known to those skilled in the art and may be used underconditions that provide the optimum mixing of the ingredients anddesired particle size and flowability.

According to certain non-limiting embodiments, the compositions of thepresent disclosure may have a solid granular or agglomeratedformulation. According to certain non-limiting embodiments, the granularor agglomerated formulation may have a mesh size of at least 5 (i.e.,the particles would have a size of about 4 mm or smaller). According toother non-limiting embodiments, the mesh size may be from about 10 meshto about 5 mesh (i.e. the particle size would range from about 2 mm toabout 4 mm). Pellet size may be coarse (over 200 size guide number(SGN)) by certain industry standards, but smaller pellet size may equateto a larger surface area which may allow for more extensive and rapidsoil microbial activities and release of nutrients. According to variousembodiments where the composition of the present invention has a solidformulation, the composition may be at least substantially soluble inwater at a temperature from 32° F. to 140° F.

According to certain non-limiting embodiments, the composition of thepresent disclosure may comprise one or more organic compounds comprisingone or more isolated or purified lysine products. As used herein, theterm “lysine product” includes a product comprising the amino acidlysine (C₆H₁₄N₂O₂) and salts or derivatives thereof, and the term“lysine” includes all isomers of lysine (i.e., L-lysine, D-lysine, andany mixture of L- and D-lysine). Lysine has a C to N ratio of 3:1. Thelysine products according to various non-limiting embodiments maycomprise nitrogen content ranging from about 9% N to about 20% N,depending of the formulation. In certain embodiments, the nitrogencontent of the lysine products may range from about 9% N to about 15% N.

Various non-limiting examples of lysine products suitable for use in thepresent disclosure include, but are not limited to, water soluble saltsof lysine, such as, for example, lysine monohydrochloride (“lysine(HCl)”), lysine hydrate, lysine dihydrochloride, and lysine sulfate;lysine free-base; aqueous solutions of lysine free-base; granularlysine; lysine cell waste; lysine cell mass; lysine raffinate; a lysinemother liquor, or mixtures of any thereof.

In certain other embodiments, the compositions may be applied to thesoil in an amount of about 1.0 kg/acre to about 4000 kg/acre.

Lysine monohydrochloride (HCl) is commercially available in the form ofL-lysine (HCl) (commercially available from Archer-Daniels-MidlandCompany, Decatur, Ill.). L-lysine (HCl) may be obtained from, forexample, but not limited to, purifying the product of a lysinefermentation process by crystallization of the hydrochloride salt.L-lysine monohydrochloride (available from Archer-Daniels-MidlandCompany. Decatur, Ill., as well as other suppliers) may be utilizedeither as a granular solid or as an aqueous solution. L-lysine (HCl) hasa purity of at least 98.5% (ranging from 95-99%), a crude proteincontent of about 94.4% (ranging from 90-98%, as measured by a nitrogencontent times 6.25), a chloride content of about 19.7% (ranging from18-22%), and an L-lysine content of about 78.8% (ranging from about72-85%) with about 100% isomeric purity. Commercial L-Lysine (HCl) maycome in the form of tan colored granules having a particle size of <1.19mm (85%) and <0.17 mm (5%). L-Lysine (HCl) has a solubility in H₂O at25° C. ranging from 500 g/L to 600 g/L, and has a bulk density rangingfrom 0.61 g/cm³ to 0.71 g/cm³. The L-lysine (HCl) may be feed grade,commercial grade, or any other suitable grade. L-lysine (HCl) has anitrogen content of approximately 15% and is readily available at a lowunit cost of nitrogen.

It is also contemplated that other isolated or purified amino acids maybe suitable for use as or to be used in combination with the one or moreorganic compounds in the present disclosure. For example, thenon-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure may include acomposition comprising an amino acid product selected from the groupconsisting of an arginine product, a methionine product, a threonineproduct, and combinations of any thereof. The amino acid products mayinclude water soluble salts of the amino acid, free-bases of the aminoacids, aqueous solutions of the amino acid salt and/or free-base, andcombinations of any thereof. Fertilizer compositions comprising othernaturally occurring amino acids are also contemplated.

In another embodiment, a stream of an agricultural process may be usedby itself or in conjunction with an amino acid product to produce afertilizer composition. In one example, an aqueous stream may besubjected to a pH adjustment to precipitate various constituents of theaqueous stream, and the precipitated products may be separated from theremaining aqueous portions. The remaining aqueous portions may be driedand used as the fertilizer composition or combined with the amino acidproduct.

In one embodiment, a stream of a corn wet mill may have the pH raised byadding NH₃ such that phytic acid and phosphorus are precipitated. Theremaining aqueous solution may be dried and used as a fertilizercomposition or mixed with the amino acid product to be used as thefertilizer composition. In one example, the dried stream may have thefollowing profile, on a dry weight basis; about 50.39% protein (rangingfrom 40-60%); about 3.61% fatty acids (ranging from 2.5-5.0%); about33.11% ash (ranging from 25-40%); about 0.18% calcium (ranging from0.1-0.25%); about 8.97% phosphorus (ranging from 8-10%); about 4.65%magnesium (ranging from 3.5-5.5%); about 2.89% potassium (ranging from2-4%); less than about 0.01% sodium; about 581.40 PPM iron (ranging from450-700 PPM); about 880.40 PPM zinc (ranging from 750-1000 PPM); about37.0 PPM copper (ranging from about 30-45 PPM); about 210.40 PPMmanganese (ranging from about 150-260 PPM); and about 0.742% sulfur(ranging from about 0.5-1.0%).

Other embodiments may include prevention and treatment of diseasescomply present in lawn or turf grasses. Home lawns are commonly infectedby leaf diseases including dollar spot, rust, gray leaf spot, powderymildew, anthracnose and Helmintho-sporium leaf spot. Most of the timethese problems go unnoticed by the homeowner and do not causesignificant damage to the lawn. However, when conditions are favorablefor disease development, serious damage can occur. Effective controlprograms for most diseases must include proper cultural care of thelawn, and a basic understanding of the factors affecting diseasedevelopment. Dollar spot is caused by the fungus, Sclerotiniahomoeocarpa. It causes straw-colored spots about the size of a silverdollar (2 to 6 inches diameter) to appear on closely mowed turf. Grassin affected areas may die and the spots may merge to form larger,irregular patches. In coarse textured grass that is cut high, the deadspots are larger and more diffuse. Leaf blades have light tan spots withreddish-brown margins that develop across the leaves.

Dollar spot most commonly occurs on bermudagrass, zoysiagrass,bentgrass, fescue and ryegrass. Dollar spot is most active from latespring through fall. The fungus develops during humid weather, whendaytime temperatures are warm (59 to 86° F.) and nights are fairly cool.These conditions result in heavy dew forming on the grass. One of theembodiments of the present disclosure is a method for controlling leafdiseases such as dollar spot.

Also a persistent problems in lawns and greens are lawn weeds, such ascrabgrass (Digitaria spp), which is a warm-season annual weed. The mostprevalent species of Digitaria in North America are Large Crabgrass (D.sanguinalis), sometimes know as Hairy Crabgrass; and Smooth Crabgrass(D. ischaemum). These species often become problem weeds in lawns andgardens, growing especially well in lawns that are watered lightly,underfertilized, poorly drained, and growing thinly.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure if a method of controllinglawn weeds such as crabgrass.

In yet another embodiment, the compositions, as described herein, may beapplied to the soil and/or plant in a solid, granular, or powdered form,and may be followed by watering (i.e., by irrigation, rain fall, etc.)to disperse the components of the composition into the soil formicrobial breakdown. According to other non-limiting embodiments, thecompositions disclosed herein may be applied to a plant, such as turfgrass, or soil containing such a plant in an amount measured by theweight of nitrogen (as calculated by the N component from the N-P-Kvalue) per unit area per unit time. For example, according to onenon-limiting embodiment, the compositions may be applied in an amountfrom 0.0625 lb nitrogen/1000 ft²/2 weeks to 0.375 lb nitrogen/1000 ft²/2weeks. According to another non-limiting embodiment, the composition maybe applied in an amount from 0.25 lb nitrogen/1000 ft²/month to 3.0 lbnitrogen/1000 ft²/month. According to still other non-limitingembodiments, the compositions may be applied in an amount from 0.5 lbnitrogen/1000 ft²/month to 8.0 lb nitrogen/1000 ft²/month.

In other embodiments the N-P-K may be between 9-1-1 and 9-1-3 (i.e. 9parts nitrogen, 1 part phosphorous (i.e., P2O5) and 1 part potassium(i.e., K2O)). In some yet other embodiments the N-P-K may be between9-2-1 and 9-2-3. In some other additional embodiments the N-P-K may bebetween 9-3-1 and 9-3-3.

In yet other non-limiting embodiments, the compositions may be ingranular form having a release of water-soluble fertilizer agents suchas nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium compounds. In certain otherembodiments the compositions of the present invention may contain traceelements including, but not limited to manganese oxide, iron sulfate,potassium phosphate and combinations of any thereof.

According to certain non-limiting embodiments, the compositions of thepresent disclosure may comprise one or more organic compounds comprisinga fermentation cell broth, products from a fermentation process, and/orby-products from a downstream recovery process of a fermentationprocess. As used herein, the term “fermentation cell broth” includesproducts generated from a fermentation process including, but notlimited to, an alcohol, such as, for example, ethanol; an organic acid,such as, for example, lactic acid; an ester of an organic acid, such as,for example, lactate esters; an amino acid, such as lysine or threonine;a fungal, or a bacterial fermentation. The broth may comprise themycelium, the cell mass, or the biomass of yeast or fungal fermentationand the media on or in which it was grown and may comprise the enzymesystem of the viable organism and its concomitant metabolites and otherproducts produced during the fermentation process and not removed duringone or more separation processes. The broth may further or alternativelycomprise a bacterial fermentation mass, such as, for example, a cellmass or a biomass, and the media on or in which it was grown and maycomprise the enzyme system of the viable organism and its concomitantmetabolites produced during the fermentation process and not removedduring the one or more separation processes.

According to one non-limiting embodiment, the fermentation cell brothmay be an alcohol fermentation broth, such as an ethanol fermentationbroth utilizing yeast as the fermentation medium. Suitable alcoholfermentation yeast varieties include, but are not limited to, brewer'syeast, baker's yeast and other strains of Saccharomyces, such as,Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In yet an additional non-limiting embodiment, the compositions of thepresent invention may be produced at a first geographic location andtransported or shipped to a second geographic location. For instance, afacility at the first geographic location may be able to produce aproduct more economically than a facility at the second location due tovarious factors. The factors may include, for example, lower costs ofmaterials, lower costs of energy (e.g., electricity and/or natural gasor other petroleum products), lower costs of labor (e.g., wages paid toemployees), lower costs of environmental controls or effects. Thus, thecosts of producing the compositions in the first geographic location maybe less than the costs of producing the products in the secondgeographic location, resulting in the production costs being less in thefirst geographic location.

In such an instance, the composition may be produced at the firstgeographic location and shipped to the second geographic location suchas by transport over water with ships or barges, trucking, flying, byrail, or other means of transportation. The geographic location may be acounty, a state, a country, a continent, and/or combinations of anythereof. In this manner the product may be produced, for example, in afirst county, state, country, or continent, and transported to and/orsold in a second county, state, country, or continent. Variousembodiments of compositions according to the present disclosure will beexemplified in the following examples. Those having ordinary skill inthe relevant art will appreciate that various changes in the components,compositions, details, materials, and process parameters of the examplesthat are hereafter described and illustrated in order to explain thenature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art, and allsuch modifications will remain within the principle and scope of theinvention as expressed herein and in the appended claims. It will alsobe appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that changes couldbe made to the embodiments described above and below without departingfrom the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood therefore,that this invention is not limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed, but is intended to cover modifications that are within theprinciple and scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

EXAMPLES

Fertilizer used in the examples were Lysine HCl (LSG, available fromArcher Daniels Midland Company Decatur, Ill.). Liquid Lysine (LSL,available from Archer Daniels Midland Decatur, Ill.), Ammonium Sulfate(available locally from a gardening store), Sustane 5-2-4 (availablefrom Suståne/Natural Fertilizer of America, Canon Falls, Minn.), NatureSafe (available from Griffin Industries, Cold Spring, Ky.), ChipcoRonstar G (available from Bayer Environmental Science, Research TrianglePark, NC) Soy-Lysine granular product prepared according to the variousembodiments of this disclosure.

Example 1

A fertilizer composition was prepared by blending high protein soybeanmeal (available from Archer Daniels Midland Company, Decatur Ill.) in anamount 70 percent by weight, lysine HCl (available from Archer DanielsMidland Company, Decatur Ill.) in an amount 20 percent by weight, soyprotein isolate (available from Archer Daniels Midland Company, DecaturIll.) in an amount 7 percent by weight and soybean oil (available fromArcher Daniels Midland Company, Decatur Ill.) in an amount 3 percent byweight.

The ingredients were blended in a 3 ton single-ribbon Hays & Stolz mixer(available from Hayes & Stolz Industrial Mfg. Co., Ltd. ForthworthTex.). The dry ingredients were introduced into the mixer through thedry weigh-up system and the soybean oil was sprayed along the mass ofthe dry material. The mixture was allowed to blend for at least threeminutes. The dry blended product was pelleted in a 150 HP CaliforniaPellet Mill (available from California Pellet Mill Co. CrawfordsvilleInd.) using steam addition to achieve a temperature of at least 150degrees Fahrenheit.

The pellet material was crumbled in a pellet crumbler (available fromCalifornia Pellet Mill Co. Crawfordsville Ind.) to generate a crumbledproduct, and screened using standard US sieves to meet a desiredparticle size for the desired application which in one embodiment may bebetween 3360 microns and 1680 microns. The final granular product has anN-P-K (nitrogen to phosphorous to potassium) ratio of 9:1:2.

Example 2

A turfgrass is fertilized at monthly rates of between about 0.5 and 3.0lbs nitrogen/1000 square feet with a fertilizer composition of thepresent invention applied as a solid granular product.

Example 3

A turfgrass is grown and maintained in golf course fairway conditions.The turfgrass is mown at a ½ inch height of cut and fertilized monthlybetween 0.5 and 3.0 lbs nitrogen per 1000 square feet using a fertilizercomposition of the present invention as a solid granular product.

Example 4

A turfgrass is grown and maintained in golf course fairway conditions.The turfgrass is mown at a ½ inch height of cut and fertilized monthlybetween 0.5 and 3.0 lbs nitrogen per 1000 square feet using a fertilizercomposition of the present invention as a solid granular product.

Example 5

A turfgrass for golf green is mown at ⅛ inch or lower and fertilized ona weekly basis, which is termed “spoon feeding,” using a fertilizercomposition of the present invention as a solid granular product.

Example 6

In another embodiment, the effect of a fertilizer composition of thepresent invention prepared using the embodiments of this disclosure onsoil microbial populations are studied. Nitrogen “dosing” is theequivalent to the standard nitrogen application rate of 1.0 lb ofnitrogen/1000 sq. ft.

Example 7

A turfgrass is fertilized on fairways of a golf course using acomposition of the present invention in substantially the same manner asdescribed in example 1 at three different rates: half, full and 3×normal rates (0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 lbs nitrogen/1000/month) applied on amonthly basis.

Example 8

In another embodiment the effect of various fertilizers was studied ongolf greens. Three 5 feet by 6 feet sized golf greens plots werefertilized with 0.125 lbs nitrogen per 1000 square feet (designated as1× rate). Fertilizers were applied weekly for 1 month and biweekly afterthat. The various treatments investigated were: (1) Ammonium Sulphate at0.5× rate, (2) Ammonium Sulphate at 1× rate, (3) Dry lysine at 0.5×rate, (4) Dry lysine at 1× rate, (5) Liquid lysine at 0.5× rate, (6)Liquid lysine at 1× rate, (7) Soy-Lysine granular at 0.5× rate, (8)Soy-Lysine granular at 1× rate, (9) Sustane 5-2-4 at 0.5× rate, (10)Sustane 5-2-4 at 1× rate and (11) Unfertilized control.

Sustane and soy-lysine treatments were applied as granular materials.Granular materials were applied on a whole plot basis by adding anappropriate amount of material to a shaker jar and distributing ituniformly across a single plot. All other materials were applied on aliquid basis. All liquids were applied by mixing the appropriate amountof material in approximately 1 gallon of water and distributing itacross a single plot by a standard garden watering can. Immediatelyafter application of treatments the entire study was irrigated forapproximately 10 minutes to minimize potential injury and activate thefertilizers. The experiments were monitored daily for signs of wilt,injury or past damage, particularly disease. Overall grass was ratedweekly using a visual scale of 1-9 with 9 representing perfect greens.Ratings higher than 6.0 are considered acceptable, while any ratingbelow 6.0 is unacceptable. In the Green experiment, no differences wereobserved after the initial application due to the low application rate.After one month of weekly applications, as presented in FIG. 1 the 1× ornormal rate of each material was observed to be of higher quality thanthe unfertilized plots or the 0.5× rates. However as results presentedin FIG. 2 indicate at the 1× application after 11 weeks rate Soy-Lysinegranular treatment was comparable to that of Ammonium Sulphate (0.5×rate), Liquid Lysine (0.5× rate) and Sustane (0.5× rate).

Example 9

In yet another embodiment the effect of various fertilizers was studiedon lawn grass. Three 5 feet by 6 feet sized golf greens plots werefertilized with 0.125 lbs nitrogen per 1000 square feet (designated as1× rate). Fertilizers were applied weekly for 1 month and biweekly afterthat. The various treatments investigated were: (1) Ammonium Sulphate at0.5× rate, (2) Ammonium Sulphate at 1× rate, (3) Dry lysine at 0.5×rate, (4) Dry lysine at 1× rate, (5) Liquid lysine at 0.5× rate, (6)Liquid lysine at 1× rate, (7) Soy-Lysine granular at 0.5× rate, (8)Soy-Lysine granular at 1× rate, (9) Sustane 5-2-4 at 0.5× rate, (10)Sustane 5-2-4 at 1× rate and (11) Unfertilized control. The results arepresented in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Sustane and soy-lysine treatments were applied as granular materials.Granular materials were applied on a whole plot basis by adding anappropriate amount of material to a shaker jar and distributing ituniformly across a single plot. All other materials were applied on aliquid basis. All liquids were applied by mixing the appropriate amountof material in approximately 1 gallon of water and distributing itacross a single plot by a standard garden watering can. Immediatelyafter application of treatments the entire study was irrigated forapproximately 10 minutes to minimize potential injury and activate thefertilizers. The experiments were monitored daily for signs of wilt,injury or past damage, particularly disease. Overall grass was ratedweekly using a visual scale of 1-9 with 9 representing lawn grass.Ratings higher than 6.0 are considered acceptable, while any ratingbelow 6.0 is unacceptable.

The overall quality of turf in the lawn height study was very good inthe early evaluation (after seven weeks), but showed reduced quality inmore recent evaluations. There were no significant differences amongtreatments, but the Soy-Lysine granular treated plots appeared to catchup in quality with other sources even though they had received only oneapplication (after 11 weeks).

Example 10

In one embodiment the effect of various fertilizers was studied on lawndollar spot. Three 5 feet by 6 feet sized golf greens plots werefertilized with 0.125 lbs nitrogen per 1000 square feet (designated as1× rate). Fertilizers were applied weekly for 1 month and biweekly afterthat. The various treatments investigated were: (1) Ammonium Sulphate at0.5× rate, (2) Ammonium Sulphate at 1× rate, (3) Dry lysine at 0.5×rate, (4) Dry lysine at 1× rate, (5) Liquid lysine at 0.5× rate, (6)Liquid lysine at 1× rate, (7) Soy-Lysine granular at 0.5× rate, (8)Soy-Lysine granular at 1× rate, (9) Sustane 5-2-4 at 0.5× rate, (10)Sustane 5-2-4 at 1× rate and (11) Unfertilized control.

Sustane and soy-lysine treatments were applied as granular materials.Granular materials were applied on a whole plot basis by adding anappropriate amount of material to a shaker jar and distributing ituniformly across a single plot. All other materials were applied on aliquid basis. All liquids were applied by mixing the appropriate amountof material in approximately 1 gallon of water and distributing itacross a single plot by a standard garden watering can. Immediatelyafter application of treatments the entire study was irrigated forapproximately 10 minutes to minimize potential injury and activate thefertilizers. The experiments were monitored daily for signs of wilt,injury or past damage, particularly disease. Percent of plot coveredwith dollar spot lesions was used to evaluate grass quality ratings.Results are presented in FIG. 5. After 11 weeks of applicationSoy-Lysine at 1× application and Sustane 5-2-4 at 1× application rateprovided the maximum level of dollar spot lesion control.

Example 11

In one embodiment the effect of various fertilizers was studied on lawncrabgrass invasion. Three 5 feet by 6 feet sized golf greens plots werefertilized with 0.125 lbs nitrogen per 1000 square feet (designated as1× rate). Fertilizers were applied weekly for 1 month and biweekly afterthat. The various treatments investigated were: (1) Ammonium Sulphate at0.5× rate, (2) Ammonium Sulphate at 1× rate, (3) Dry lysine at 0.5×rate, (4) Dry lysine at 1× rate, (5) Liquid lysine at 0.5× rate, (6)Liquid lysine at 1× rate, (7) Soy-Lysine granular at 0.5× rate, (8)Soy-Lysine granular at 1× rate, (9) Sustane 5-2-4 at 0.5× rate, (10)Sustane 5-2-4 at 1× rate and (11) Unfertilized control.

Sustane and soy-lysine treatments were applied as granular materials.Granular materials were applied on a whole plot basis by adding anappropriate amount of material to a shaker jar and distributing ituniformly across a single plot. All other materials were applied on aliquid basis. All liquids were applied by mixing the appropriate amountof material in approximately 1 gallon of water and distributing itacross a single plot by a standard garden watering can. Immediatelyafter application of treatments the entire study was irrigated forapproximately 10 minutes to minimize potential injury and activate thefertilizers. The experiments were monitored daily for signs of wilt,injury or past damage, particularly disease. Percent of plot coveredwith lawn crabgrass was used to evaluate grass quality ratings. Resultsare presented in FIG. 6. After 11 weeks of application Soy-Lysine at0.5× application performed better than Sustane 5-2-4 at 0.5× rate or drylysine at 0.5× rate

Example 12

In another embodiment, the fertilizers of the various embodimentsdescribed herein were compared to industry standards for efficacy andphytotoxicity on St. Augustinegrass and bermudagrass. In anotherembodiment the experimental fertilizers were evaluated for theirefficacy as a pre-emergent herbicide compared to an industry standard.

The treatments for St. Augustine grass and Bermuda grass are outlined intables 1 and 2 while that for the herbicide treatments are outlined intable 3.

Efficacy of the fertilizers on the St. Augustinegrass Site was evaluatedby applying treatments 1-8 to 4 replications of ‘Floratam’ St.Augustinegrass. Plot size was 1 m×2 m set up as a randomized completeblock. Initially Nature Safe was applied as a granular, while ammoniumsulfate and remaining products were applied as split liquid treatmentssprayed out using a CO₂ boom sprayer set to deliver a volume of 1gallon/1000 ft². After six weeks all 10 treatments were applied to the 4replications of ‘Floratam’. Products 3-10 were again applied as splitliquid treatments using a CO₂ boom sprayer. Split treatments werere-applied approximately 2 weeks later. Plots were mowed at 3.0 inchesbefore fertilizer application. Irrigation (0.15 inch) was appliedfollowing each application. Clipping samples were taken approximatelymonthly for dry weight (grams) determination. Plots were rated forturfgrass quality and color (scale of 1-10 where 10=dark green turf,1=dead/brown turf, and 6=minimally acceptable turf) throughout studyperiod. All data was subject to statistical analysis and significantmeans were determined.

Efficacy of the fertilizers on the Bermudagrass Site was evaluated byapplying, treatments 1-8 to 4 replications of 1 m×2 m bermudagrass plotsset up as a randomized complete block. Nature Safe was applied as agranular, while ammonium sulfate and remaining products were applied assplit liquid treatments sprayed out using a CO₂ boom sprayer set todeliver a volume of 1 gallon/1000 ft². Turfgrass ratings were taken toensure turf quality/color uniformity.

After 6 weeks all 10 treatments were applied to 4 replications ofbermudagrass plots. Products 3-10 were again applied as split liquidtreatments sprayed out using a CO₂ boom sprayer. Split treatments werere-applied approximately 2 weeks later. Plots were mowed at 0.5 inchesbefore fertilizer application. Irrigation (0.15 inch) was appliedfollowing application. Clipping samples were taken approximately monthlyfor dry weight (grams) determination. Plots were rated for turfgrassquality and color (scale of 1-10 where 10=dark green turf, 1=dead/brownturf, and 6=minimally acceptable turf) throughout study period. All datawas subject to statistical analysis and significant means weredetermined.

Herbicide efficacy of the fertilizers was evaluated with Granular Lysine(LSG), Liquid Lysine (LSL), and Ronstar G by applying them to 3replications of 1 m×1 m plots which also included an untreated control.Plots were located in an area of known weed infestation problems. Plotswere prepared prior to treatment application by rototilling and applying3 glyphosate applications to clear up pre-existing weeds and the testwas initiated with 0 percent weed in all plots. On approximately monthlyintervals percent weed cover ratings were taken. All data was subject tostatistical analysis and significant means were determined.

Turfgrass Quality and Color. Significant differences in turfgrassquality and color were observed on all rating dates for St.Augustinegrass sites 1 and 2 (Tables 4-7). The LSG high rate materialhad the highest numerical average on many rating dates and the NSstandard material also performed well on some rating dates (Tables 4-7).

Bermudagrass quality and color were also affected by treatment afterapplication (Tables 8 and 9). As seen with the St. Augustinegrass plotsthe LSG high rate material generally had the best numerical turfgrassscores on most dates, (Table 8 and 9). A strong response to the secondapplication of fertilizer made all treatments better than the control onthe 7/2 rating date regardless of N rate applied and little separationthereafter (Tables 8 and 9).

Clipping weights (obtained from samples after mowing the turfgrasses)were significantly affected by treatment on most harvest dates for bothgrasses (Tables 10-12). On some dates standards had the most clippingsand on other dates experimental materials had greater clipping weights(Tables 10-12).

Weed ratings. A separate test was conducted on bare soil to evaluateweed ratings after application of LSG and LSL compared to apre-emergence standard and an untreated control. Although there appearedto be a trend was slightly less weeds in the experimental treatmentscompared to the control, the trends observed were not significantlydifferent (Table 13). The standard had the lowest weed rating on 2observation dates and by the end of the test all treatments were similar(Table 13).

The methods and compositions described herein are exemplary embodimentsand not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Otheraspects and embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art uponconsideration of this specification, and are encompassed within thespirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims. It willbe apparent to one or ordinary in the art that varying substitutions andmodifications may be made to the invention disclosed herein withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention, and from thedescription of the inventions, including those illustratively set forthherein, it is manifest that various modifications and equivalents can beused to implement the concepts of the present invention withoutdeparting from its scope. A person of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departingfrom the spirit and the scope of the invention. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive. Thus, for example, additional embodiments are within thescope of the invention and within the following claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A fertilizer composition comprising: a seed proteinselected from the group consisting of soybean meal, soy protein isolate,soy protein concentrate, soybean flakes, soybean hulls, soybean flour,soybean grits, soybean flakes, whey protein, canola protein, milkprotein, gelatin, wheat gluten, cottonseed protein, palm kernels, palmprotein, rapeseed kernels, safflower protein, sunflower protein, sesameprotein, peanut protein, peanut processing residue, and mixtures of anythereof; an isolated or purified amino acid product; and a bindingagent.
 2. The fertilizer composition of claim 1, wherein the bindingagent is selected from the group consisting of butterfat, cocoa butter,cocoa butter substitutes, illipe fat, kokum butter, milk fat, mowrahfat, phulwara butter, sal fat, shea fat, camelina oil, canola oil,castor oil, coconut oil, coriander oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil,hazelnut oil, hempseed oil, jatropha oil, linseed oil, mango kernel oil,meadowfoam oil, mustard oil, neat's foot oil, olive oil, palm oil, palmkernel oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, rice bran oil, safflower oil,sasanqua oil, shea butter, soybean oil, sunflower seed oil, tall oil,tsubaki oil, tung oil, vegetable oils, triacylglycerols,diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, triolein palm olein, palm stearin,palm kernel olein, palm kernel stearin, triglycerides of medium chainfatty acids, lecithin, crude glycerin, corn syrup, corn steep liquor,condensed distillers' solubles, derivatives of any thereof, conjugatedderivatives of any thereof, genetically-modified derivatives of anythereof, and mixtures of any thereof.
 3. The fertilizer composition ofclaim 1, wherein the isolated or purified amino acid product is selectedfrom the group consisting of lysine monohydrochloride, lysine hydrate,lysine dihydrochloride, lysine sulfate, lysine free-base, lysine cellwaste, lysine cell mass, lysine raffinate, a lysine mother liquor,threonine, threonine cell mass, threonine mother liquor, tryptophan,methionine and mixtures of any thereof.
 4. The fertilizer composition ofclaim 1, wherein the composition has a granular form.
 5. The fertilizercomposition of claim 1, further comprising a soil conditioner.
 6. Thefertilizer composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises atleast eight percent by weight nitrogen.
 7. A fertilizer compositioncomprising: soybean meal; 10-30% by weight of an isolated or purifiedlysine product; and a vegetable oil.
 8. The fertilizer composition ofclaim 7, wherein the composition comprises at least eight percent byweight nitrogen.
 9. The fertilizer composition of claim 7, wherein thesoybean meal is present in the composition at 50-80 percent by weight.10. The fertilizer composition of claim 7, further comprising a soyprotein isolate.
 11. The fertilizer composition of claim 7, wherein thevegetable oil is present in the composition at between 1-5 percent byweight.
 12. The fertilizer composition of claim 7, wherein thecomposition is in a granular form.
 13. A method comprising: spreading agranular form of a composition comprising a seed protein, a vegetableoil, and an isolated or purified amino acid product to a plant, soil ora combination thereof.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein thecomposition comprises at least eight percent by weight nitrogen.
 15. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the plant is a turfgrass.
 16. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the turfgrass is selected from the group consisting ofSt. Augustine grass, Bermuda grass, dwarf Bermuda grass, tall fescuegrass, bent grass, buffalo grass, rye grass, and any combinationsthereof.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising mixing thecomposition with an organic product selected from the group consistingof animal manures, compost, bone meal, feather meal, blood meal, peat,and combinations of any thereof.
 18. The method of claim 13, furthercomprising mixing the composition with a compound selected from thegroup consisting of a fermentation cell broth, an ammonium salt of anorganic acid, an amidated organic carboxylic acid, products and/orby-products generated at an agricultural product processing facility, achelated mineral and combinations of any thereof.
 19. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising mixing urea with the composition.
 20. Themethod of claim 13, further comprising mixing condensed distillers'solubles with the composition.